And here is the WalMart letter to which GeorgiaGlocker refers. Apparently they do not allow open carry (hey, it's their business) but they do allow concealed carry if you are complying with state laws.

QUOTE:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by The Pontificator
the exact same letter Grassroots South Carolina used for 6 years to get signs down in stores here.

Dear TFA,
I wrote to Wal-Mart and asked what policy, if any, their company had
regarding the lawful carry of concealed handguns in their stores by
holders of Tennessee Handgun Carry Permits. I also told them that I
would be glad to share their response with the TFA so that through your newsletters and webpage you could share that information with permit holders statewide. I was pleased to get their answer affirming the right to carry in their stores. I have attached their response below. Their only concern was that a concealed weapon be concealed. Of course, as you point out on your page, it also is true that Tennessee law forbids carry in stores that sell alcohol.

Thank you for contacting Wal-Mart regarding our concealed handgun policy. Wal-mart was founded by Sam Walton on three principles: Strive for Excellence, Service to our Customers, and Respect for the Individual. It is that respect for the individual that led us to create the current policy pertaining to concealed handguns.

The following is our policy: if a Wal-mart customer has been aearded a concealed handgun license by the state government, Wal-Mart will follow the direction of the state. However, if at anytime while on Wal-Mart property, that customer's concealed weapon becomes visible to Wal-Mart associates or customers, Wal-Mart reserves the right to ask the customer to either reposition the weapon so that it will not be visible, to remove the weapon completely or to leave Wal-Mart property.

With the exception of law enforcement personnel, Wal-Mart does not allow any exposed weapons to be worn or carried in public view on Wal-mart property or in Wal-Mart stores. Customers other than low enforcement personnell wearing or carring a weapon in an exposed manner will be asked to leave the property immediately.

We appreciate your concern and trust that this has addressed your concerns regarding this issue.

So I track down the case number, and call the police department. They tell me that the charge stuck, and that the man is currently out on bond. I ask the officer "So the charge wasn't dropped?" and she says, "Why would it be?" And I say: "I just didn't consider or realize that Walmart would be a public gathering." She said: "Oh yes sir, anywhere there are people is considered that."

I started to argue a little bit with her on it, and she just got flustered and said: "Look, here are the two detectives numbers, you can call them and talk to them about it."

It is not a case file number in Coweta (neither State nor Superior Court). The court gives out no information relating to criminal cases over the telephone, but it is public information and can be accessed on either of two public computer terminals at the courthouse in Newnan by typing in a last name. They are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

From what I found (no, I don't have the links at the moment; took about 20 minutes to find): seems the guy was observed concealing the gun outside the store, went in, cops were called, and when the cops arrived & confronted him, he started reaching for the gun and he was stopped. Strictly speaking as described, he had not (up to that point) done anything legally wrong, but sometimes you just know someone is about to do something bad (like suspicious behavior just before an armed robbery - legal but telling), and the cops probably pulled out the "public gathering" prohibition as something to hook him with and justify an arrest 'till they could get him under control and out of the way, and figure out what to do later.

I rarely support police arresting someone without solid cause, yet sometimes you just know pre-emptive action is required lest something really bad happen. I suspect the "public gathering" issue will be dropped in favor of a more suitable charge.

So I track down the case number, and call the police department. They tell me that the charge stuck, and that the man is currently out on bond. I ask the officer "So the charge wasn't dropped?" and she says, "Why would it be?" And I say: "I just didn't consider or realize that Walmart would be a public gathering." She said: "Oh yes sir, anywhere there are people is considered that."

I started to argue a little bit with her on it, and she just got flustered and said: "Look, here are the two detectives numbers, you can call them and talk to them about it."

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

mzmtg, you can either provide a link to this thread or cut and paste the above info. No need to spread anymore internet rumors.